Heritage engineering apprenticeship cleared for Government funding

Published: 12/07/2018

The Directors of The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (The Federation), are delighted to announce that their application for student funding for their Heritage Engineering Apprenticeship has been granted.

The original course, the only one of its kind in the UK with Ofqual accreditation, has been re-launched to meet the Government’s new Trailblazer criteria, with a greater emphasis on preserving basic engineering skills and practices. With the broader application of these skills we have taken the opportunity to include options for heritage aviation, heritage marine and steam as well as road vehicles. The removal of any age criteria for the course opens it up to older students, particularly those looking for a second career or former service people wanting a career in civilian life.

The existing apprenticeship, which has been offered at Bicester since its launch in 2014 will start conversion to the new standard from August this year. The improved course has been created by a panel of restoration businesses and training providers to ensure the skills taught are those needed for the historic sector and these have also been “future proofed” by including a number of specialisms currently not available, such as Trim and Coachwork. Plans are being made to add these at a later date and the funding announced today will also cover these options.

Commenting on the news The Federation’s Skills Director, Karl Carter said today (12 July),

” Two months ago we received the news that the Heritage Engineering Apprenticeship scheme we have been working on for over a year had been allocated a funding band which was insufficient to make the course financially viable to deliver. The difference between the funding and the delivery cost has to be paid by the employer on top of paying the apprentice salary and travel costs. We therefore appealed the decision and I am very pleased to confirm that the appeal was successful and we have been allocated a higher funding band which allows us to launch the new course in the Autumn.”

Over the last six months the level of interest in the course has been tremendous and the Heritage Skills Academy that has been running the course from The Federation’s dedicated facility at Bicester Heritage has seen significant growth in numbers of employers coming forward and particularly the number of people wanting to do this apprenticeship and make a career in historic vehicles.

Heritage Skills Academy Website  heritageskillsacademy.co.uk